“I think the straw poll has outlived its usefulness,” Branstad told the Journal for its Tuesday story. “It has been a great fundraiser for the party, but I think its days are over.”

The event last year precipitated the end of former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s campaign and briefly gave Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) some momentum. Its history indicates that there’s little correlation between who wins the straw poll and who eventually secures the nomination: The Journal noted that in 33 years, the winner of the straw poll has gone on to win the Iowa caucuses and then the party’s nomination only twice: in 1995, with Sen. Bob Dole; and 1999, with President George W. Bush.

“You saw what happened the last time,” Branstad said in the story. “I don’t think candidates will spend the time or money to participate in a straw poll if they don’t see any real benefit coming out of it.”

The Iowa GOP chairman swung back.

“Gov. Branstad is wrong, and this is not a decision he will make, anyway,” said A.J. Spiker in the Journal. “It is a decision the party and the candidates will make.”